Eagle River quarterback Nolan Beaty is sacked by Soldotna linebacker Wyatt Faircloth on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Justin Maile Field at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Railbelt, Division II postseason honors announced

The Railbelt All-Conference and Division II All-State teams were released Saturday, Nov. 2.

The Railbelt Conference is made up of eight teams — the same eight teams that make up Division II.

The major awards for both were the same, with conference champion and state champion Soldotna taking three of the six awards.

For the second straight season, Soldotna senior Wyatt Faircloth was Defensive Player of the Year and SoHi senior Kenai Lepule was Lineman of the Year.

Stars junior Andon Wolverton was Dynamic Player of the Year.

Lathrop finished third in the conference and second in the state. For the Malemutes, Oschaun Easaw was Offensive Player of the Year and Claudious Jones was Assistant Coach of the Year.

North Pole finished second in the conference and lost in the state semifinals to Lathrop. For the Patriots, Michael Hollett was Head Coach of the Year.

Division II all-state

Offensive Player of the Year: Oschaun Easaw, Lathrop.

Defensive Player of the Year: Wyatt Faircloth, Soldotna.

Dynamic Player of the Year: Andon Wolverton, Soldotna.

Lineman of the Year: Kenai Lepule, Soldotna.

Head Coach of the Year: Michael Hollett, North Pole.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Claudious Jones, Lathrop.

1st team

Offense

Quarterback — Braiden Martin, North Pole; Running back — Oschaun Easaw, Lathrop; Wyatt Faircloth, Soldotna; Andon Wolverton, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Wilson Lawson, Lathrop; Landon Ritter, North Pole; Reed Craner, Palmer; Tight end — Luke Skinner, Lathrop; Fullback — Nolan Farr, Eagle River; Tackle — Wayne Snowden, Lathrop; Kenai Lepule, Soldotna; Guard — Tyler Griffen, Eagle River; Theo Huff, Soldotna; Center — Caiden Olson, North Pole.

Defense

Defensive line — Wayne Snowden, Lathrop; Kenai Lepule, Soldotna; Elijah Lee, Soldotna; Luke Miller, Soldotna; Ben Dobkins, Lathrop; Inside linebacker — Wyatt Faircloth, Soldotna; Tyle Griffen, Eagle River; Jimmy Runnels, North Pole; Outside linebacker — Luke Skinner, Lathrop; Trevor Michael, Soldotna; Defensive back — Luke Poland, Chugiak; Nolan Beaty, Eagle River; Lokeni Wong, Soldotna; Matthew Schilling, Soldotna; Utility player — Geronimo Talo, Lathrop.

Specialists

Kicker — Landon Bobo, Chugiak; Punter — William Russell, North Pole; Return specialist — Conrad Lassey, West Valley; Long snapper — AJ Melvin, North Pole.

2nd team

Offense

Quarterback — Nolan Garner, Palmer; Running back — Garrett Bird, Eagle River; Wide receiver — KJ Henry, Palmer; Tight end — Trevor Michael, Soldotna; Fullback — Jaykob Kemp, Soldotna; Tackle — Jaxon Orrison-Edwin, Lathrop; Evan Doyle, West Valley; Guard — Hayden Lewellyn, North Pole; Koda Lepule, Soldotna; Center — Wes Watts, West Valley.

Defense

Defensive line — Elijah Ortega, Chugiak; Brayden Ott, Eagle River; Caiden Olson, North Pole; Inside linebacker — Tim Greenwood, Lathrop; Braeden Smith, North Pole; Ziare Stebbins, West Valley; Outside linebacker — Nolan Farr, Eagle River; Corbin Gerkin, Palmer; Defensive back — Michael Roschi, Eagle River; Landon Ritter, North Pole; KJ Henry, Palmer; Halen Neild, West Valley; Utility player — Greyson DeVaughn, West Valley.

Specialists

Kicker — Luke Hillyer, Soldotna; Punter — Nolan Beaty, Eagle River; Return specialist — Matthew Schilling, Soldotna; Long snapper — Lilly Davidge, Lathrop.

Railbelt All-Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Oschaun Easaw, Lathrop.

Defensive Player of the Year: Wyatt Faircloth, Soldotna.

Dynamic Player of the Year: Andon Wolverton, Soldotna.

Lineman of the Year: Kenai Lepule, Soldotna.

Head Coach of the Year: Michael Hollett, North Pole.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Claudious Jones, Lathrop.

1st team

Offense

Quarterback — Braiden Martin, North Pole; Nolan Garner, Palmer; Running back — Oschaun Easaw, Lathrop; Wyatt Faircloth, Soldotna; Garrett Bird, Eagle River; Andon Wolverton, Soldotna; Wide receiver — Wilson Lawson, Lathrop; Landon Ritter, North Pole; Reed Craner, Palmer; KJ Henry, Palmer; Tight end — Luke Skinner, Lathrop; Trevor Michael, Soldotna; Fullback — Nolan Farr, Eagle River; Jaykob Kemp, Soldotna; Tackle — Wayne Snowden, Lathrop; Kenai Lepule, Soldotna; Jaxon Orrison-Edwin, Lathrop; Evan Doyle, West Valley; Guard — Tyler Griffen, Eagle River; Theo Huff, Soldotna; Hayden Lewellyn, North Pole; Koda Lepule, Soldotna; Center — Caiden Olson, North Pole; Wes Watts, West Valley.

Defense

Defensive line — Wayne Snowden, Lathrop; Kenai Lepule, Soldotna; Elijah Lee, Soldotna; Luke Miller, Soldotna; Ben Dobkins, Lathrop; Elijah Ortega, Chugiak; Brayden Ott, Eagle River; Caiden Olson, North Pole; Inside linebacker — Wyatt Faircloth, Soldotna; Tyle Griffen, Eagle River; Jimmy Runnels, North Pole; Tim Greenwood, Lathrop; Braden Smith, North Pole; Ziare Stebbins, West Valley; Outside linebacker — Luke Skinner, Lathrop; Trevor Michael, Soldotna; Nolan Farr, Eagle River; Corbin Gerkin, Palmer; Defensive back — Luke Poland, Chugiak; Nolan Beaty, Eagle River; Lokeni Wong, Soldotna; Matthew Schilling, Soldotna; Michael Roschi, Eagle River; Landon Ritter, North Pole; KJ Henry, Palmer; Halen Neild, West Valley; Utility player — Geronimo Talo, Lathrop; Greyson DeVaughn, West Valley.

Specialists

Kicker — Landon Bobo, Chugiak; Luke Hillyer, Soldotna; Punter — William Russell, North Pole; Nolan Beaty, Eagle River; Return specialist — Conrad Lassey, West Valley; Matthew Schilling, Soldotna; Long snapper — AJ Melvin, North Pole; Lilly Davidge, Lathrop.

2nd team

Offense

Quarterback — Devin Emmett, Lathrop; Owen Buckbee, Soldotna; Running back — Luke Poland, Chugiak; Michael Roschi, Eagle River; Patrick Melvin, North Pole; Corbin Gerkin, Palmer; Wide receiver — Brice Delosier, Eagle River; Jaycee Brooks, Lathrop; Elijah Johnson, North Pole; Logan Rolston, Palmer; Tight end — Josh Johnston, Eagle River; Braeden Smith, North Pole; Fullback — Ryan Mikkelsen, Wasilla; Ziare Stebbins, West Valley; Tackle — Andrew Burak, Chugiak; Eli Finley, Palmer; Peyton Crowley, Wasilla; Guard — Holt Hansen, Chugiak; Sebastian Lynch, Lathrop; Grayson McDowell, Wasilla; Darren Benedetti, West Valley; Center — Aiden Sorensen, Eagle River; Chandler Coman, Palmer.

Defense

Defensive line — Marcus Brown, Chugiak; Josh Johnston, Eagle River; Zeddy Fanene, Lathrop; Zeke Enlow, North Pole; Hayden Lewellyn, North Pole; Chandler Coman, Palmer; Koda Lepule, Soldotna; Ryan Mikkelsen, Wasilla; Inside linebacker — Cannon Clifford, Chugiak; Judah Smith, Wasilla; Grayson Mcdowell, Wasilla; Darren Benedetti, West Valley; Outside linebacker — Jake Lenoir, Chugiak; Togi Tiumalu, Lathrop; Quinn Kraus, North Pole; Jayden Hartman, Palmer; Defensive back — Migeul Morrero, Eagle River; Devone Hall, Lathrop; Deshon Hall, Lathrop; Zach Denny, North Pole; Reed Craner, Palmer; Kemeul Rodriguez, Wasilla; Conner Zundel, Wasilla; Landen Wiedmaier, West Valley; Utility player — Dax Walden, Soldotna; Al Bua, North Pole.

Specialists

Kicker — Lucas Naber, Lathrop; Zach Denny, North Pole; Punter — Oschaun Easaw, Lathrop; Landon Bobo, Chugiak; Return specialist — Wilson Lawson, Lathrop; Patrick Melvin, North Pole; Long snapper — Dalton Armstrong, Soldotna; Titus Penwell, West Valley.

Honorable mention

Quarterback — Kalen Worland, Chugiak; Running back — Devin Cooper-Jackson, North Pole; Evan Harris, West Valley; Wide receiver — Cooper Scherffius, Chugiak; Jimmy Lackey, Wasilla; Guard — Ryker Dean, Eagle River; Luke Sena, Palmer; Titus Penwell, West Valley; Center — Jonathan Souchik, Palmer; Noah Malone, Wasilla; Defensive back — Peyton Barnes, Chugiak.

More in Sports

Photo courtesy Pete Dickinson
The SoHi junior varsity and varsity wrestling teams compete in the Battle for the Bird at Soldotna High School on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The Kenai Peninsula Athletics Sapphire dance team performed the halftime show.
SoHi, Nikiski wrestling teams compete for Thanksgiving dinner

The Stars and Bulldogs faced off during the Battle for the Bird duals last Wednesday.

Runners of all ages gather for a photo in the Homer High School Commons after the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Due to icy outdoor conditions, the official run was moved to the high school halls. Photo courtesy Matthew Smith
55 turn out for Homer Turkey Trot

Each Thanksgiving morning, the Kachemak Bay Running Club and the City of… Continue reading

The varsity wrestling team is pictured after the Robin Hervey individual tournament in Kodiak on Nov. 22, 2025. Photo courtesy of Pete Dickinson
Sports briefs: Soldotna hockey, wrestling teams secure wins at weekend tournaments

SoHi hockey won the End of the Road tournament in Homer and the wrestling team gained 20 individual wins.

The Kenai Central High School varsity volleyball team is named the 2025 3A Volleyball State Championship Tournament, held Nov. 13-15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The Kardinals defeated the Nikiski Bulldogs 3-2 in a "rematch" championship game on Saturday, Nov. 15, securing their third state title in the last four years. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Volleyball Booster Club
Kenai Central takes home 3rd volleyball state title

The Kards defeated Nikiski in a rematch championship game on Saturday during the state tournament in Anchorage.

Soldotna High School wrestlers won six individual championships during the Lancer Smith Memorial wrestling tournament in Wasilla Nov. 14-15. Photo courtesy of SoHi Stars Wrestling on Facebook
SoHi wrestling sweeps Lancer Smith tourney, eyes state title

SoHi girls and boys took first and second place as teams, respectively.

Soldotna’s Gracelyn Altobelli attacks against Nikiski’s Addison Perkins on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sports briefs: Soldotna volleyball claims third Northern Lights Region III title

The SoHi Stars will compete at the state tournament this weekend.

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer, Kenai football receive Division III All-State awards

Players on the Homer High School and Kenai Central High School varsity… Continue reading

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer football brings home back-to-back state titles

The Mariners defeated Barrow 20-0 on Saturday, winning the state championships for the second year in a row.

Homer's Nik Macauly runs past Kenai Central's Carson Cramer on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer football tops Kenai

The Homer football team defeated Kenai Central 44-6 on Saturday in Mid… Continue reading

tease
Saturday: Brown Bears top Mountain Kings, win 2 of 3 at Showcase

The Kenai River Brown Bears finished up play at the North American… Continue reading

tease
Kenai volleyball ties for 3rd in Gold Bracket at West Spiketacular

The Kenai Central volleyball team tied for third in the Gold Bracket… Continue reading

tease
Soldotna football tops Lathrop, captures 20th straight conference title

The Soldotna football team defeated Lathrop 27-14 on Friday in Railbelt Conference… Continue reading